This is IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English.

This week, the United States Census Bureau released its official count of the nation's population. It said the population, as of April first, was three hundred eight million, seven hundred forty-five thousand, five hundred thirty-eight.

The population increased nine point seven percent in ten years. This was the nation's lowest growth rate since the nineteen thirties. Experts say this was a result of falling birth rates among some groups and fewer immigrants because of the recession.